home / skills / openclaw / openclaw / wacli
This skill helps you manage WhatsApp messaging and history via wacli by sending messages to contacts or searching chats on demand.
npx playbooks add skill openclaw/openclaw --skill wacliReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: wacli
description: Send WhatsApp messages to other people or search/sync WhatsApp history via the wacli CLI (not for normal user chats).
homepage: https://wacli.sh
metadata:
{
"openclaw":
{
"emoji": "📱",
"requires": { "bins": ["wacli"] },
"install":
[
{
"id": "brew",
"kind": "brew",
"formula": "steipete/tap/wacli",
"bins": ["wacli"],
"label": "Install wacli (brew)",
},
{
"id": "go",
"kind": "go",
"module": "github.com/steipete/wacli/cmd/wacli@latest",
"bins": ["wacli"],
"label": "Install wacli (go)",
},
],
},
}
---
# wacli
Use `wacli` only when the user explicitly asks you to message someone else on WhatsApp or when they ask to sync/search WhatsApp history.
Do NOT use `wacli` for normal user chats; OpenClaw routes WhatsApp conversations automatically.
If the user is chatting with you on WhatsApp, you should not reach for this tool unless they ask you to contact a third party.
Safety
- Require explicit recipient + message text.
- Confirm recipient + message before sending.
- If anything is ambiguous, ask a clarifying question.
Auth + sync
- `wacli auth` (QR login + initial sync)
- `wacli sync --follow` (continuous sync)
- `wacli doctor`
Find chats + messages
- `wacli chats list --limit 20 --query "name or number"`
- `wacli messages search "query" --limit 20 --chat <jid>`
- `wacli messages search "invoice" --after 2025-01-01 --before 2025-12-31`
History backfill
- `wacli history backfill --chat <jid> --requests 2 --count 50`
Send
- Text: `wacli send text --to "+14155551212" --message "Hello! Are you free at 3pm?"`
- Group: `wacli send text --to "[email protected]" --message "Running 5 min late."`
- File: `wacli send file --to "+14155551212" --file /path/agenda.pdf --caption "Agenda"`
Notes
- Store dir: `~/.wacli` (override with `--store`).
- Use `--json` for machine-readable output when parsing.
- Backfill requires your phone online; results are best-effort.
- WhatsApp CLI is not needed for routine user chats; it’s for messaging other people.
- JIDs: direct chats look like `<number>@s.whatsapp.net`; groups look like `<id>@g.us` (use `wacli chats list` to find).
This skill lets the assistant send WhatsApp messages to third parties and search or sync WhatsApp history via the wacli command-line tool. It is intended only for contacting other people or managing message history, not for everyday chat with the user. Use it when explicit recipient and message text are provided and confirmed.
The skill runs wacli commands to authenticate, sync history, search chats/messages, backfill history, and send text or files. It requires explicit recipient identifiers (phone JID or group JID) and confirmation before sending. Outputs can be produced as machine-readable JSON for parsing.
What information do I need to send a message?
You must provide an exact recipient JID or phone number and the full message text. I will confirm both before sending.
Can this be used for my current chat with the assistant on WhatsApp?
No. Do not use wacli for routine user chats. Use it only when you ask me to message someone else or manage history.